Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-05-28
BoTT1NEAU THE BEAUTIFUL
Excursion from Devils Lake-A
Magnificent Region.

Last Sunday morning special train
pulled out Of Devils Lake for Bottineau
carrying about 30 eXcursiOnlsts, citizens
of Devils Lake. The object of tho OK
cursion was to celebrate tho completion
of the Bottincau branch, and was gotten
up by Mr.. jerks, tho Manitoba agent in
this city, who certainly proved himself
an expert in the excursion business.
The Devils Lake cornct band, in full uni
form, was Of the party, and furnished
delightful music. Grand Ilarbor,
Churchs Ferry and Rugby Junction
supplied good sized accessiOns to the OK
cursion. At York the stars and stripes
tloatcd to the brcczes, and George Will
son, tho townsitc proprietor, made Il
happy speech Of welcome to his many
old friends.
Arriving at Bottincau. the excursion
lists were cordially received by tho lead
ing citiZeus. All kinds of vehicles were
on hand to carry the people to the old
town (whcrc most oithc houses are now
and where Il very toothsomo dinner
spread by mine hos. Thompson was en-
jOvcd, after which the hccXcursionists were
driven to points. of interest. The visitor
to l'ottincau will find several very re-
markablc spots To attract his attention.
Ono particularly pleasant place is Danas
grove situated in tar valley Of Oak creek
Just north OF the town. Here are to be
found rustic ac:,t, and swinging ham
mocks, and the place has been made OK
trcmcly pleasant by the veteran Judge
Dana, well known as ono Of tho pioneers
of this county. 4 mile further north aro
the first nights of the mountains from
which IL Wow that is littlo lcss than awe
inspiring may be had of oftheivast strotch
| cs of prairie land. TO the right may DO
seen, twenty miles away, the sierratcd
and oak-tipped hills which form the
eastern confines of tho pallucid Mouse.
! To tho left and in front tho view is unob-
seems to 20 down cternally beyond tho
myriad of humble prairie homes of in
lustrious settlers. The whole country is
now tapistricd in green, and the delicious
mountain air is pure and invigOrating,
the yertablo balm of health.
Tho old townsito of Bottineau is about
one mile from tho proposed depot, and
will probably permit itself to be swal-
! lowed by tho combination of Minnesota
ans who own the now tOwnste at tho ter
minus of the line. Indeed tho principal
business men have already decided to
| remove, and several now buildings arc
| in course of erection on tho new site.
The town is only Il short distance from
Oak creck-a stream of pure fresh spring
water which can easily be utilized. The
mountain region is already famous for
mineral springs in the vicinity of Bot
tineau which will prove of great value
fproperly handled. In the matter of
soil there is nothing further to be de-
sired. For thousands of years the de-
caycd vegetation oftho hillside has been
spread by water and wind over tho ad
jaccnt prairics, making tho land very
rich and fertile. Bottineau county, it
will be remembered, holds tho modal of
tho New Orleans exposition for tho finest
wheat raised in the United States. The
soil is especially adapted to small
grains, and grows enormous veg
etables. But the chief resources of Bot
tineau's greatness is not in the soil; there
is a hidden wealth in those noblo hills,
and tho pooplo should loose no time in
tapping them. Coal, oil, sandstone, and
minerals of a more precious nature per.
haps await discovery and dcvelopcnent
The oxcursionists returned to this city
at 1880 greatly pleased with the trip.